Why spiders love your home
Like all other creatures, spiders need water and moisture to survive. That is why you often see them in the kitchen and the bathroom. They also like to get in (and easily) through our drains. Therefore, flush these regularly with boiling water and keep the drains covered with a plug or lid.
Here are the best, natural ways to repel spiders:
1. Keep your home thoroughly clean (including corners)
Spiders prefer to weave their webs in quiet, dusty places. By keeping your home clean and dust-free, you instantly make the environment unattractive to them.
- Check corners for cobwebs: Be extra vigilant in corners, skirting boards and around windows and doors.
- Suction: Vacuum regularly to remove dust, dirt and any eggs. Focus especially on those hidden places where they like to hide, such as under furniture and behind cupboards.
2. Limit stuff lying around
Spiders love clutter as it provides numerous places to hide. By tidying up and minimising clutter, you give them fewer hiding places.
Storage is key: Make sure things are put away instead of lying loose in the attic or garage. Clearing out your home has several benefits, of course, but making it spider-free is also nice!
3. Close the entryways
Even the smallest cracks are an open door for spiders. So look for possible entrances that a spider can use to get inside.
- Sealing: Inspect gaps, holes and cracks in walls, window frames and around pipes. Seal them to prevent spiders from getting in.
- Doors and windows: Make sure windows close properly and fit draught strips to seal gaps under the door.
Secret weapon: scents that spiders hate
Spiders have a very sensitive olfactory system and hate certain, strong smells. Here's your chance to repel them in a completely natural and animal-friendly way:
Peppermint oil
Spiders abhor the strong smell of peppermint. It is the perfect, natural repellent.
- Spray: Mix about 20 drops of peppermint essential oil with water in a spray bottle. Spray this in corners, along windows and doors and in other spider-sensitive areas.
- Diffuser or Candle: Use the oil in a diffuser or light a peppermint-scented candle for a pleasant scent in the house (and an unpleasant one for spiders).
Cinnamon
Cinnamon is also an effective scent to keep spiders away.
- Sticks: Place cinnamon sticks in places where you notice spider activity, such as near doorways, in cupboards or in corners of the room.
- Powder: If necessary, sprinkle cinnamon powder around the perimeter of your house, especially near windows and doors.
Any spider in your house?
If you do encounter a spider despite all precautions, catching it and releasing it is the best option.
If you are not comfortable picking them up by hand, use an upside-down glass and a piece of paper, or invest in a spider catcher. That way, you can safely take the spider outside and let nature take its course.
Our TRIXXO cleaning helper lends a hand
Keeping up all the corners and keeping the furniture dust-free is quite a job. A task your TRIXXO household helper will be happy to take over from you.
By cleaning regularly and thoroughly, your home will naturally become less attractive to unwanted guests.